Second batch of U.S. coal for DTEK arrives in Ukraine

"On November 18, a bulk carrier carrying 75,000 tonnes of gas coal from the U.S. called at the port of Chornomorsk. The coal will be delivered to DTEK's thermal power plants [TPPs] to replenish their stocks, which will enable the stations operate with increased load, feeding the required capacity into Ukraine's power grids during the heating season," it said.

The coal is to be delivered to Ladyzhynska and Zaporizhia TPPs. Now, 79,000 tonnes and 80,000 tonnes of coal are in stock at the stations, respectively.

Read alsoEnergy Ministry elaborates on Ukraine’s demand for coal"The second shipment of gas coal from the U.S. helps to reduce the temporary fuel shortage in Ukraine, which arose after the blockade and halt to supplies of anthracite from temporarily uncontrolled territory [in eastern Ukraine]. On the morning of November 20, some 22,000 tonnes of coal was unloaded at the Chornomorsk seaport," the press service said.

As reported, the shortage of Ukrainian anthracite since March 2016 has increased load on TPPs that operate on gas coal, as well as boosted consumption of the coal after the TPP had switched from anthracite to gas coal.

Furthermore, DTEK has to import gas coal since its mining in Ukraine does not yet satisfy the needs of the thermal power plants.

The hostilities in the eastern regions of Ukraine have caused a significant shortage of coal, primarily that of thermal anthracite produced in militant-controlled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

To ensure stable operation of its anthracite-fed thermal power plants, DTEK decided to buy coal from mines in Russia's Rostov region, as well as signed a contract for the supply of more than 600,000 tonnes of coal from South Africa. Under the contract, the supply may be increased to one million tonnes. DTEK received its first shipment at the port of Yuzhny on May 25.

UNIAN memo. DTEK is Ukraine's largest private vertically integrated energy company, which is part of the financial and industrial SCM (System Capital Management) Group. DTEK's coal segment includes DTEK Pavlohradvuhillia (consisting of 10 mines), DTEK Dobropilliavuhillia (five mines), DTEK Mine Komsomolets Donbasa, DTEK Rovenkyanthracite (six mines and three enrichment plants) DTEK Sverdlovanthracite (five mines and three enrichment plants), Bilozerska mine, and five enrichment plants.